There were always officials patrolling the streets of the capital, and the commotion here attracted the attention of the patrolling officials nearby.
"Stop! Stop it all! What's going on? Fighting in broad daylight! Do you even respect the government?" the officials shouted at Tao Wanniang and her group from afar.
Tao Wanniang immediately stopped what she was doing, and before the thugs could speak, she cried out in a sob, "Your Excellency, please save this poor soul!"
"I, a woman, used all my savings to open a restaurant, and before it even opened, these people came to my door demanding protection money. Good heavens, do they even want people to live?" Tao Wanniang wailed, not afraid of not having enough tears, but afraid of not crying enough.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Little Qiao'er heard Tao Wan's mother crying loudly and immediately ran out, hugged Tao Wan's mother's leg, and also started wailing, "Mother, please don't let anything happen to you!"
Tao Wanniang suppressed a laugh; Xiao Qiao'er really understood her!
When the officers saw Tao Wanniang, they couldn't help but take a second look. One of them tentatively asked, "Tao? The one from Wuyi Lane?"
Tao Wanniang was taken aback and looked at the official with suspicion. Oh my, it's an old acquaintance!
“Brother Officer, it’s you! You know our situation. My whole family fled here from famine. We finally managed to settle down in the capital, and we have to find a way to make a living!” Tao Wanniang said with a bitter expression. “I’ve invested all my savings in this shop, and these young people actually dared to harass me!”
"What nonsense are you spouting?" The thug, who had been hit on the head by Tao Wanniang, covered his head and shouted in frustration. They hadn't done anything!
"You call her a middle-aged woman? Isn't that what you're saying?" Tao Wanniang said indignantly. "I'm a woman who has been a widow for more than ten years. How can I not be ashamed to death to be spoken to like that!"
These two constables were the ones Wang Fugui had found before. They knew that Tao Wanniang's house in Wuyi Lane was a gift from the Prince Rui's mansion, so when they heard Tao Wanniang's tearful complaints, they treated the local ruffians with cold indifference.
"Don't worry, Tao," the official said solemnly. "Under the emperor's nose, there's absolutely no chance of local bullies extorting money."
"You lot, why don't you apologize to Tao Shi? She's just a woman, and it's not easy for her. You're all capable people, why don't you find some decent work? Aren't you ashamed?" The officer berated the thug.
“If we find out you’re extorting money from the people again, we’ll arrest you and throw you in jail. Now get out of here!” another officer said.
The thugs had been beaten and gained nothing, and they were all indignant, but they couldn't disobey the officials. In the end, they all glared fiercely at Tao Wanniang.
"Oh dear, I'm so scared!" Tao Wanniang said, clutching her chest. "Officers, look, this is a threat! They're planning to take revenge after you leave!"
"We didn't!" the leader of the thugs shouted in frustration. What's wrong with glaring at someone? Can't we even glare at someone after being beaten?
"Zhang Song!" the officer shouted immediately.
"If anything happens to me later, it will definitely be because of you guys," Tao Wanniang said in a panic. "Officers, you saw it yourselves. They dare to lie to your faces. They really don't respect you!"
Zhang Song was deeply annoyed by Tao Wanniang's twisted words. Seeing the scrutinizing and warning look from the official, he gritted his teeth and said, "Officer, we understand. We will absolutely not retaliate against this family!"
"Get out of here now!" the officer shouted.
Watching the thugs leave one by one, having been humiliated, Tao Wanniang thanked the officers, saying, "Thank you so much, officers! I really don't know what I would have done without you. May I ask your names?"
"My name is Su Ren, and this is Zhang Yi. We both patrol this area. If you need anything in the future, you can come to us," Su Ren said.
"What kind of restaurant are you planning to open?" Zhang Yi asked casually. With the Prince Rui's mansion taking care of him, why would he need to open a restaurant?
"A restaurant, I'll open a small restaurant. You two officers are welcome to patronize it. I'll give you a 20% discount!" Tao Wanniang said immediately. She naturally understood why the officers were taking care of her. Everyone knew the reason behind the Prince Rui's mansion.
"Okay, then I wish you a prosperous business." Su Ren said politely, and walked away with Zhang Yi.
"Mother, you're amazing!" Little Qiao'er looked at Tao Wan's mother with admiration. Whether it was a rogue or a government official, her mother was not afraid!
Tao Wan's mother pinched the little girl's cheek and praised her, "You are very capable, you have learned a lot from your mother's teachings!"
"You two scared me to death!" Bai Yumei said as she came out. "Sister Tao, you were too fierce! These are all young men; if a fight had really broken out..."
“Do they even dare to hit me? If they really do, I’ll take it to the authorities!” Tao Wanniang said. “You must stand up for yourself against this kind of unfair extortion and never let them do whatever they want!”
"Manager Tao, you're really amazing!" The workers in the shop all applauded Tao Wanniang.
The merchants nearby also became curious about Tao Wanniang. Although they didn't come up to talk to her, they all looked over.
After asking the foreman about the remaining construction period, Tao Wanniang took Bai Yumei and Xiao Qiao'er home!
Once the shop is ready, she'll prepare the ingredients and then hold a trial operation to see how it goes.
The Ling brothers and their wives gathered together at home and discussed the general outcome.
“Sister-in-law, Rui’er and Xiao Feng are at home, I’ll keep an eye on them for you, but I’ve already said I’ll get twenty coins a month,” Zhou Xiaoyun said earnestly. “I’m not just sitting around taking care of the kids at home.”
“Okay, but you have to make sure Rui’er and Xiao Feng eat and sleep well.” Wang Hongyu thought for a moment. She could earn two hundred coins a month, and she was willing to give twenty coins to Zhou Xiaoyun.
“Since Xiaoyun and sister-in-law have reached an agreement, let’s tell Mother,” Ling Dapeng said with a simple smile. “I hope Mother’s restaurant will be very successful in the future.”
"That's for sure, you all know how good my mother is at cooking." Ling Dapeng was full of hope for the future.
Just then, Madam Wang from next door knocked on the door with her maid.
The Ling brothers answered the door and were somewhat reserved when they saw Madam Wang.
"I am Wang Fugui's wife from next door. We are all neighbors. I have never visited before. Is your mother here?" Mrs. Wang said kindly, carrying some pastries in her hand.
“Our mother isn’t home,” Ling Dahu said. “Aunt Wang, why don’t you come in and sit down?”
"No, she's not here," Madam Wang was about to take her leave when she heard a woman's voice behind her.
"Who are you? Who are you looking for?!"
Who else could it be but Tao Wanniang and her companions who had returned?
Lady Wang turned around and saw Tao Wanniang. She was taken aback; wasn't she supposed to be an old widow? How could she be so young?
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